Shloka 9
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्त्वा दुःखशोकार्त: शुचिर्धर्मसुतस्तदा । सम्मूर्छितो5भवद् राजा साश्रुकण्ठो युधिछ्िर:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ity uktvā duḥkhaśokārtaḥ śucir dharmasutas tadā | sammūrcchito 'bhavad rājā sāśrukaṇṭho yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ayant parlé ainsi, le roi Yudhiṣṭhira, fils de Dharma au cœur pur, accablé de chagrin et de douleur, s’évanouit. La gorge étranglée par les larmes, il ne put prononcer un mot ; son tourment révélait le poids moral qu’il portait et la profondeur de sa compassion.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical sensitivity expected of a dhārmic ruler: true righteousness is not cold detachment but a conscience that feels the weight of suffering. Yudhiṣṭhira’s collapse shows how moral responsibility and compassion can overwhelm even a king.
Within Vaiśampāyana’s narration to King Janamejaya, Yudhiṣṭhira—after speaking—becomes overcome by grief and sorrow, his voice choked with tears, and he faints.